How rising jet fuel prices are driving up the cost of fighting wildfires

A firefighting aircraft drops retardant ahead of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In the summer of 2021, five "Fire Boss" airplanes skimmed the surface of a lake. They belonged to aerial firefighting company Dauntless Air, and they were helping fight a wildfire in Washington state. …